Statesboro Karate's Master Instructor
Our Master Instructor, Mr. Clay Pierson has been certified under the American Tang Soo Do Alliance, the American Unified Black Belt Schools, the International Combat Hapkido Federation, and Krav Maga Worldwide to teach martial arts. He has been involved with martial arts since the age of ten years old when he began studying Isshynru Karate. He came underneath the influence and instruction of American Tang Soo Do in 1980 at the Chuck Norris Karate School in Tarzana, California. He trained there for two years with Chuck Norris' personal sparring partner and friend, Richard Prieto and also Chuck Norris Black Belt, Daryl Combs.
Mr. Pierson later completed his Black Belt training in American Tang Soo Do in the same Chuck Norris lineage under Mr. Pierson's long time friend and current instructor, 6th degree Black Belt Mark Cox in Chatsworth, California. Mr. Pierson received his First Degree Black Belt in June of 1997, his Second Degree Black Belt in September of 2000, and his Third degree Black Belt in 2004. Recently, he was promoted to a 4th degree Master under 6th degree Master Mark Cox and 5th degree Master Nathan Carlen in May of 2010.
Mr. Pierson is also a certified instructor in Krav Maga, Israeli self-defense-fitness-Fighting under Darren Levine and Krav Maga Worldwide. He has also cross-trained in Hapkido, Combat Hapkido, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Over the past 10 years, Mr. Pierson has also worked with Master Cox in perfecting a system of Fighting called "Fight Club Unlimited," which has been proven to create competitive fighters in only 16 sessions. In 2009, Mr. Pierson created a children's simplistic self-defense based off Krav Maga called "Bully Buster." This system resulted from the need of children to immediately face the bullies of life without the luxury of long term training. Over 50 children were trained in this system last year in a grant program in Metter, GA and no longer walk in fear, but with confidence.
Mr. Pierson is a Christian family man with a tremendous friend in his wife and two great boys. He has served his community as bi-vocational pastor for many years. He has started and pastored two churches in Bulloch County, GA. Currently, he is a member of the Bible Baptist Church of Statesboro, GA and works with his Pastor, Jon Edmisten, and best friend, Dr. Benny Beckum, president of the Intercessor Ministries, in conducting prayer revivals throughout the United States. He is ordained to the Christian ministry and holds a BA degree in Pastoral Ministry from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Pierson believes strongly that one of his personal missions is the empowering of children and adults through his Christian based martial arts programs. Mr. Pierson has also taught in both public and private schools since 1990 in the state of Georgia and been deputized by the Sheriff of Bulloch County to assist in teaching of Martial Arts to local Law Enforcement agencies.
